Niinistö alluded to recent legislation concerning demonstrations and to other laws enacted during Vladimir Putin's new term of office. He said there had been "a tightening of the screws."

But he told the paper it was too early to make firm conclusions as to whether the changes were permanent.

Niinistö said that, after being in office for just over six months, he had not made any changes to Finnish foreign policy.

On Wednesday, President Niinistö, accompanied by his wife, is paying a visit to the Åland Islands.